Utility light and test lamp



Jan. 7, 1936.

A. I. HAMMER UTILITY LIGHT AND TEST LAMP Filed May 5, 1934 Patented Jan. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,927,096 UTILITY LIGHT AND TEST LAMP Alfred I. Hammer, Boston, Mass.

Application May 3, 1934, Serial No. 723,743 3 Claims. (01. 175-183) My invention relates to lamps of the flash light type, and particularly to the class that may be termed utility lamps.

Such lamps, suitable for general use, are of particular value to electricians and mechanics in general, and are adapted to permit the use of both hands, and insofar are differentiated from an ordinary flash light. Such lamps are either in a lantern form or provided with attachments by means of which the lamp may be supported, usually on the head, leaving the hands free.

My invention includes not only the above features but combines with them other novel features as will be described.

One object of my invention is to provide a utility lamp of this character with means for testing short circuits, broken electric connections, fuses and Christmas tree lights and the like.

A second object is to provide a lamp of this character with removable attachments by means of which the lamp may be attached to the head or used as a lantern.

My invention consists in the combination with j a lamp of this character, of novel means for testing electric circuits, and in the means employed for facilitating the use of the lamp for its several functions.

In the accompanying specifications and claims and the drawing forming a part thereof, I have described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, but do not confine myself to this disclosure, as modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In-the drawing,

Fig. l is a front elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation, substantially on the line 2-2, Fig. l, the dry cell being shown in elevation for simplicity.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan substantially on the line 3-3, Fig. 2, the dry cell being shown in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation substantially on the line 4-4 Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation showing the testing plug.

Fig. 6 is a fragment showing the attaching means for the head straps.

Referring to the drawing, in is a housing enclosing the dry cell i l, which is inserted from the rear, the back cover l2 being hinged at [3 and adapted to be retained in closed position by the spring latch I4. The dry cell is yieldingly retained in operative position by means of leaf springs l5 at the top, IS on the side and II on the cover I2, the positive terminal I8 of the dry cell abutting the bus bar 20 at l9, the bus bar being insulated from both housing and dry cell. A second bus bar 2| is similarly insulated from the 5 housing the leaf springs I5 secured to the bus bar making contact with the shell 23 of the cell forming the negative pole of the cell through the insulating covering 22. The bus bar 20 has a branch 25 adapted'to be engaged by the positive 10 terminal 26 of the light bulb 26. in the chamber 21, and the branch forms an abutment for the dry cell and is insulated therefrom.

I have shown the bulb threaded into the reflector 28 flanged at 29 to engage the end of the 15 chamber wall2'l, a cap 30 being threaded to clamp the protecting glass 3| and the reflector 28.

A toggle switch 32, hinged at 33 to an extension 34 of the housing I0, is adapted to engage the leaf spring 35 and establish contact with the bus bar 20 2|. The bus bars are extended and are provided with independent terminals for testing purposes as I will explain. Positioned preferably at the end of the housing opposite to the switch, 32, is an insulating plug 40 in the thimble 39 secured to 25 the housing, the plug extending through the housing. Through this plug extend the terminals 4|,

42 projecting from respective bus bars 2| and 20.

I also provide an arm 43 hinged to the housing, the purpose of which I will presently explain. I 30 provide a cap 46 threaded to engage the thimble 39, to serve as a cover for the terminals 41, 42 when not in use for testing.

When the lamp is used as a utility light, o permit the use of both hands, I provide means 35 for attaching to the forehead of the user in the following manner. The bracket 50 is provided with projecting studs 5|, having heads 52. The cover I2 is provided with corresponding openings 53 formed to permit the insertion of the heads 52, 40 and slotted with a restricted portion 54 in which the body of the stud may slide, the head retaining the bracket in assembled relation with the housing cover l2. Hinged to this bracket at 55, 56, is a similar element 51, to which a suitable 45 head band may be attached.

The bracket 50 and the element 51, may be used without a head band, as a handle for use of the lamp as a lantern.

One hinge 56 is threaded and the nut 58 may be 50 tightened to retain the relation of the bracket and element 51 in fixed adjustment radially. For securing to the forehead I prefer to use metal bands in the following manner. The band 60 is provided with the stud 6| adapted to extend 55 through a perforation in the element 51. A similar band 62 is slotted to permit adjustment as indicated at 63. These serve to yieldingly bind the lamp to the head, and a similar band 64 extends upwardly to engage the crown, being slotted as indicated at 65, Fig. 2.

The bands being assembled, and the stud inserted through the perforation in the element 51, the clamp nut 66 is tightened and the three band elements are tightened in adjusted relation.

When the lamp is thus bound to the head of the user, it may be adjusted on the hinge and the nut 58 tightened to retain the lamp in position to throw the light where required.

When the switch 32 is operated, the light is lit, the circuit being closed and the cur-rent passing from the terminal l8 through the bus bar 20 and extension 25 to the light bulb returning through the chamber wall and housing to the switch, thence through the leaf spring 35, the bus bar 2|, the leaf springs IE to the shell 23 of the dry cell, completing the circuit. When the lamp is used for testing purposes, the head bands may be removed if desired and the lamp used as a lantern, and the cap 46 removed to expose the terminals 4|, 42.

The several tests are made as follows, the switch 32 being off.

For Christmas tree lights, the test is made by touchingthe metal end to the terminal 42 and the shell to the terminal 4|.

If filament is intact the circuit is completed through the bus bars and there is a slight glow, as voltage is insuiiicient for a bright light; the

lamp bulb does not light.

For testing a plug fuse, touch bottom contact with terminal 4|; and shell to the thimble 39; if fuse is good, the light bulb will glow, the circuit being closed through the bus bar 20, the bulb 26, reflector, chamber wall, housing, through fuse to terminal 4| and complete through the bus bar 2|.

With a cartridge fuse, the connection is made in similar manner through the terminal 4| and the swinging arm 43 which may be swung to contact according to the length of cartridge; the circuit is completed in similar manner to that of the plug fuse.

For testing short circuits, connect one wire to terminal 4|, and the other to the arm 43, perforations 68 and 69 respectively being provided in these elements; if there is a short circuit, the bulb will light.

For testing for open or broken wires, connect one end of the wire to terminal 4|, and the other to the arm 43. In testing a circuit through a light bulb, each wire must be tested separately, and the end of each wire in the fitting may be connected with terminal 4| and a length of wire attached to arm 43 and contact made with the same wire beyond the suspected break. Each wire if intact will light the bulb, and the break will appear when the bulb fails to light with either wire.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a utility lamp including a light bulb, a dry cell, and an enclosing housing forming a part of the electric circuit therebetween, bus bars insulated within the housing and respectively in engagementwith the positive and negative poles of the dry cell and with the positive terminal of the light bulb, a switch in the housing adapted to close the circuit between the housing and the negative bus bar; insulated terminals extending from each bus bar through the housing, and adapted to be engaged by apparatus to be tested, to close the circuit through the bus bars independent of the switch.

2. In a utility lamp of the character described in claim 1, a terminal element adjustable on the housing relative to the negative terminal projecting through the housing.

3. In a utility lamp of the character described in claim 1, a terminal element hinged to the housing and adapted to swing to vary the distance between the ends of the element and the projecting negative terminal element.

ALFRED I. HAMMER. 

